Monthly Archives: July 2012

Family and friends struggle with the sudden death of a chestnut-haired rascal who intends to help ease the burdens of his loved ones. In this new book released by Dog Ear Publishing, even death won’t stop this determined soul from trying to guide them from the great beyond.

Ned Cargill can’t overcome the latest obstacle to providing advice and guidance to his loved ones: his death. In this delightful new novel, Ned’s finding the living can be completely oblivious when messages from the dearly department are involved, but he’s got something important to tell his brothers, friends and three daughters. Of particular concern is his estranged second daughter Molly, a dreamer who has never needed her father more. Ned’s death brings a crisis, turning Molly’s unconscious mind into a battleground between past secrets and the hope of a resolution that is the only thing that will bring her happiness.

“Some Several Souls,” set in Ontario, follows the lives of those linked with the kind-hearted, good natured Ned, struggling with the suddenness of his death and the ripples it creates. The now-departed Ned finds he can visit Molly in her dreams and dreamy states, but she’s not quite ready to forgive him. She believes their estrangement caused the persistent anger that has shadowed her for years, but her dreams – if only she’d listen to them – tell another story. The complicated relationships and colorful histories of the book’s characters become the heart of this compelling story of love and loss. As Ned continues to try to nudge his loved ones toward fulfilling their destinies, family members reveal long-held secrets and passions of their own. Can Ned redeem himself in death as he never had the chance to do in life?

Individual freedom and prosperity go hand in hand, according to the theories explored in this new book from Dog Ear Publishing. The author presents his interpretation of two books by a 19th century thinker and how they relate to today’s world.

Presenting the simple idea that following a natural law of economics can bring prosperity to individuals and all of society, this new book explores the premise that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law and has a right to pursue financial security. The author draws on two works by mid-19th-century theorist Fredric Bastiat, who lived in revolutionary France while developing his Theory of Freedom at the same time as Karl Marx developed his Theory of Communism. This new work sheds light on Bastiat, who found inspiration in the United States and its founding principal of individual liberty for his books “The Law” and “Harmonies of Political Economy.”

In “The Prosperity of Liberty: A Theory of Freedom” – a call for action – the author defines prosperity, why it is liberty that provides prosperity, and he details why he believes the United States is history’s most prosperous nation. He based his ideas on Bastiat’s work because that thinker’s ideas still have relevance today. “The issues may change with time, but human nature and the nature of politics are the same today as they have ever been,” he writes.

The book’s first section, based on “The Law,” explores topics like justice, plunder, corruption of law, government, universal suffrage and social democracy. The second and more extensive section, based on “Harmonies of Political Economy,” features subjects like society’s natural order, service, wants and suffering, exchange, value, accumulation, investment, competition and relationship of liberty to prosperity. A series of addendums, including a section on the current economic climate, rounds out this comprehensive and provocative look at prosperity and its relationship to freedom.

Author Thomas Wickert first discovered the works of Frederic Bastiat in spring 2010, and they inspired him to explore those writings in connection with the nation’s current economic hardships. Wickert, a programmer, is involved in technical stock market analysis. Previously, he developed and managed relational databases for manufacturing companies. He hopes readers will contribute their own ideas about prosperity to the blog found at http://www.prosperityofliberty.com.

The author shares his love of Romanian poetry with this new collection released by Dog Ear Publishing. Readers can explore the Romanian poetical tradition with this overview of translated works from various writers.

A literature and philosophy professor shares a new treasure trove of Romanian poetry with translations of work by Mihai Eminescu, George Coşbuc, Tudor Arghezi, Octavian Goga, Ion Minulescu, George Bacovia, Al. O. Teodoreanu, Lucian Blaga and Nicolae Labiş. This new book showcases these diverse contributors who range from the late 1880s to the mid-20th century, revealing a little-known literary tradition.

“Forgotten Words” presents poetry in rough chronological order, starting with Eminescu, who lived from 1850 to 1889. His moving poem “I Have One Longing Left…” features infinite sadness yet determination to die alone: “I leave no one the choice to cry at my forehand, but autumn may give voice to leafage deserted.” There are also two versions of the poem “Luceafărul” considered by some the greatest poem written in the Romanian language. Goga (1881 to 1938) offers the heartfelt “Songs II” and its stirring words: “I remain to weave in silence songs of mourning for the dead, holidays that come and go, and weekdays that never end.” A selection on the allure of solitude is expressed in “Longing” by Labiş (1935 to 1956): “It’s dark and bereft, this sense in my soul, but a burning flame calls me towards there.” A listing of the titles in their original language rounds out this tribute to great Romanian poets.

Author Vasile Munteanu, born in Romania, has been teaching literature and philosophy courses at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas and has published the novels “Godmaker” and “Chandala.” His poetry books include “Forgotten Words,” “The Book of Aloneness,” “The Book of Remembrance,” “The Book of Intentions” and “The Book of Insistence.” Munteanu earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in English from Oakland University in Michigan and a Ph.D. in philosophy, interpretation and culture from State University of New York at Binghamton.

This new fiction release published by Dog Ear Publishing follows the divergent paths of Nigra and Kahlyn Wolf, twin white wolves who are bound to protect the Montana Forest that their father ruled for years. The sisters, who were separated for most of their lives, find themselves working as a team to save their beloved homeland from the rival pack led by their first cousin.

From her earliest childhood, Nigra Wolf knew that she was special. Her father, Shasta Wolf, ruled their forest home, protecting them from impending danger from humans as well as from his brother, who hoped to take over the forest for his own pack. Nigra admired her father, and learned the skills required to survive in the forest at his knee. Her childhood was a happy one, surrounded by friends and her beloved brother, Nikko. However, tragedy struck too soon; Shasta Wolf’s death meant that Nigra had to assume the mantle of leadership, keeping her friends and family safe from harm.

Meanwhile, Nigra’s twin sister, Kahlyn, was raised by kindly humans. Kahlyn and Nigra were each unaware of the other’s existence, and Shasta hoped to keep it that way. His fear that his brother would harm his family led him to separate the pups at birth; Kahlyn never knew her mother or her siblings, but she found a family of her own in the human world. Eventually, fate led Kahlyn back to her birthplace, and back to her family. But will Nigra be able to trust her long-lost sister? Can Kahlyn assimilate herself back into the pack? Will the two wolves be able to work together and ensure the safety of the forest?

The Journey of Nigra and Kahlyn Wolf is a fascinating tale, full of twists that will keep the reader turning the pages and longing for more. Author April Skye’s intrinsic understanding and love of animals is evident in every word, and Nigra and Kahlyn are fascinating and complex characters. Skye enjoyed writing stories from an early age, and she writes on behalf of animals that “can’t speak out, but [she] speaks for them.”

Dog Ear Publishing releases “Pauly’s Mother: A Story of Childhood Loss and Recovery” by Paul James McAllister.

Re-live a boy’s memories of growing up on the South Side of Chicago after the loss of his mother. This new book released by Dog Ear Publishing contains heartfelt emotion and humor-filled stories.

In one word, this story is about healing. Losing his mother when he was 6 years old changed Pauly’s life forever. In this new book, Paul James McAllister creates an autobiography that paints a sad, moving, and sometimes humorous story. Reminiscing about growing up Irish Catholic on the South Side of Chicago during the 1950s, the author shares how his mother’s death affected him, his older brother Danny and his father Dan.

In “Pauly’s Mother: A Story of Childhood Loss and Recovery,” the author tells his story from a child’s point of view, including the moment when he learns Edythe died after her gallbladder operation. His father tells the family God needed another angel in heaven – Paul’s mother. Life becomes bittersweet as Paul spends time with nearby family members as he marks holidays and school events without his mother. Nora McMahon joins the family four years after later, bringing a welcome woman’s touch to the family. With her encouragement, Paul gradually begins to talk about his mother, releasing feelings long bottled up.

Lightening the book’s sometimes somber mood are humorous stories, such as the shoe store salesman X-raying Paul’s feet to be sure his new leather shoes will fit, and the time his dad gave an ailing pet bird some whiskey, making the bird tipsy. The story ends on an upbeat note with Pauly looking forward to becoming a “Man of Leo.” Black and white photos of the family bring home the fact that the tales in this story are about real people. The Appendix contains letters Paul wrote to both mothers long after their deaths, adding a poignant ending to this moving memoir.

Author Paul James McAllister started writing “Pauly’s Mother” in the fall of 2005, finishing six years later. His poem “That Far Australian Beach” won third place in an online poetry contest Beginnings Publishing sponsored. He also received an honorable mention in the Short Story category for “The Ties That Bind” in the 76th annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. He lives in Blue Island, Illinois, not far from where he grew up.

A wealthy man with a more than checkered past shares his life’s story – and that of his ancestors – in this fictional memoir released by Dog Ear Publishing.

The tale of Lassiter Malone, a self-described “less than likable cuss with no redeeming virtues, save one” – he loved his wife with whatever heart he had–features recollections of a shady, back-alley life lived on the edge. This new novel, set against the vibrant backdrop of U.S. history, traces the story of Lassiter’s roots, beginning with an impoverished couple who migrate to the land of opportunity to escape the devastating Irish potato famine of the 1840s. In reviewing his heritage, Lassiter pays colorful homage to those who preceded him. The family saga evolves into a page-turning thriller complete with murder, cupidity and corruption.

“The Curmudgeon’s Tree” details Lassiter’s twisted roots, starting with his great-great grandfather, Seamus Malone, who steals and murders his way to America and finds employment as his cousin’s Irish gang’s strong-armed enforcer before serving heroically in the Civil War. Seamus’ only surviving child, Dylan, builds the family’s dubious fortune in the construction trades, pulling the strings that hoisted the Boston Irish to the halls of political and economic power. By nefarious and duplicitous means, from insider trading and land speculation to bribes, blackmail, bootlegging and brothels, grandfather Padraig Malone continues to swell the clan’s coffers until he is undone by federal investigators and imprisoned for the rest of his life. His son Lucas, Lassiter’s father, manages to shed the legacy of immorality and becomes a forester before joining the Army at the onset of World War II. Lassiter is born on a date that lives in infamy: Dec. 7, 1941.

One high-spirited and impetuous woman, Kathleen, turns Lassiter’s heart to stone, while another, Scarlett Belle, does everything she can to soften it. In battle-weary Vietnam he finds his ill-fated destiny when he crosses paths with Ethan Cantrell, a black-ops intelligence officer, who recruits Lassiter into a deadly partnership. A hit gone terribly wrong in East Germany drives Lassiter home, but his relationship with Cantrell will persist. Despite enormous financial success, Lassiter must battle attacks initiated by a billionaire and his politically ambitious son, enduring inquisitions from the FBI and crusaders who want to bring him down after a terrifying act leads to a brutal, earth-shattering assassination. A surprisingly bold move becomes Lassiter’s last chance for redemption in this unforgettable and beautifully written work that provides a touchstone to current events.

This is the first book for author David R. Branon, a successful businessman and former chairman of the multi-million dollar Americas division of a worldwide sporting goods conglomerate. The magna cum laude graduate of Harvard and his wife, Kay, live in Greenville, South Carolina.

A devoted baseball fan – and president of a baseball board game company – uses statistics to create games between Negro League players and Major League Baseball players with this new book released by Dog Ear Publishing.

Honoring 21 great players of the Negro Leagues is the goal of this new book that pits black ball players against their counterparts from the Major Leagues using carefully researched statistics. This book and a second one the author has started features 15 nine-game series vs. the 16 original post-1900 teams (the Braves and Pirates combine), as well as two 15-game All-Star series and a post-season six-team playoff from the 15 nine-game series.

May brings the games to life in stunning detail, including weather conditions, player talents and intricately detailed stats, making it easy to picture what might have happened if these skilled players had actually battled major league stars. “Bob May’s simulated games give voice and numbers to what could have been,” writes Leslie Heaphy, detail editor of “Black Ball Journal,” in the book’s forward. “Readers will get a glimpse into what the game of baseball might have looked like if everyone had been able to play on the same diamonds.”

Author Bob May, a lifelong baseball fan, bought a Pursue the Pennant baseball board game in 1987. Within two years, he became an invested partner in the company, thanks to the game’s realism, and then company president. He and his management team created a player card set in 1993 with 416 players from the 1880s to 1980s, including 21 players from the segregated Negro Leagues, known as the Black Ball Era. May is working on a second book, “The Best Season: The Challenging Finish,” which will complete the 165 games and playoffs.